By Duncan Bick

Last updated at 16:22, Monday, 16 April 2012

Attractions and businesses around Cumbria have been shortlisted for prizes in the county’s annual tourism awards.

Hotels, bed and breakfasts, events parks and landmarks are among the diverse collection among the nominees.

This year a new category has also been added to reward the county’s independent businesses.

“As always, the judges had a tough decision to whittle down the high volume of excellent entries to the shortlisted few,” said Ian Stephens, managing director of Cumbria Tourism.

“These awards highlight the best that Cumbria has to offer when it comes to providing millions of visitors with a holiday or short break to remember. This is our chance to reward the best of the best and show our appreciation.”

Mr Stephens also pointed out many Cumbrian winners had gone on to win at the Enjoy England awards, organised by national tourism body Visit England.

This is the tenth time these awards have been held.

In total, there are 12 categories, each of which has three or four nominees.

The winners will be announced at a black tie ceremony at Rheged, near Penrith, on May 24.

The nominees are...

Guest Accommodation of the Year: The Punch Bowl Inn & Restaurant, Crosthwaite; Broad Oaks Country House, Troutbeck; The Cottage in the Wood, Whinlatter Forest.

Holiday Park of the Year: Woodclose Park, Kirkby; Lonsdale Silverdale Caravan Park (Holgates), Silverdale; Black Beck Caravan Park, Bouth.

Large Hotel of the Year: Armathwaite Hall Bassenthwaite; Lakeside Hotel, Newby Bridge; Macdonald Old England Hotel, Bowness on Windermere.

Visitor Attraction of the Year: The World of Beatrix Potter, Bowness on Windermere; Whinlatter Forest, near Keswick; Walby Farm Park, Crosby On Eden.

Retail Business Award: Armstrong Ward, Kendal; Hawkshead Relish Company Ltd, Hawkshead; Larch Cottage Nurseries, Melkinthorpe.

Self-Catering Holiday of the Year: Tottergill Farm Holiday Cottages, Castle Carrock; Pudding Cottage, Ecclerigg; Lanercost Holiday Cottages, Brampton; The Tranquil Otter, Thurstonfield.

The Sheila Hensman Award for Outstanding Customer Service: Pullwood Bay Estate Team, Pullwood Bay Estate, near Ambleside; Coniston Boating Centre Team, Coniston Boating, Coniston; Jane Jenkinson, Hill Crest Country Guest House, near Newby Bridge.

Small Hotel of the Year: Holbeck Ghyll Country House Hotel, Windermere; Macdonald Swan Hotel, Grasmere; Lindeth Howe Country House Hotel, Bowness-on-Windermere.

Tourism Event of the Year: Woolfest; C-ART (Eden Arts); Holker Garden Festival 2011.

Sustainable Tourism Award: The Beacon, Whitehaven; The Quiet Site, Ullswater; Newlands Adventure Centre, Keswick.

Taste Cumbria Award: The Punch Bowl Inn & Restaurant, Crosthwaite; Overwater Hall, near Ireby; Woolpack Inn, Eskdale; Drunken Duck Inn, near Ambleside.

Tourism Experience Award: Theatre by the Lake, Keswick; Lakeland Photographic Holidays, Keswick; The Haunted Muncaster Experience, Muncaster Castle.

First published at 11:29, Monday, 16 April 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk